Schooled in victory, Bruins hope to teach foes lesson

Published: Friday, May 1, 1998

Friday, May 1, 1998

PREVIEW: Bruins look to continue game-one wins vs. Washington, Oregon schools

By Kimberly Edds

Daily Bruin Contributor

Beavers and Ducks beware.

The Bruins have learned how to win the first game of a softball doubleheader. On Tuesday against the University of Washington they captured their first game-one victory, and now the Bruins know that they can compete with anyone.

If the Bruins can take down the No. 3 Huskies, they should have it a little easier against No. 22 Oregon State (25-20, 6-12 Pac-10) and No. 25 Oregon (28-11, 7-11).

UCLA (15-22, 5-13) will head north to face the Oregon Ducks and the Oregon State Beavers in doubleheaders this weekend.

The last time the Bruins met the Ducks and Beavers they dropped both of the first games of the doubleheaders, but went on to win the second games, finishing the weekend 2-2.

One of the biggest problems for the Bruins will be Oregon State's ace, Tarrah Beyster, who blasted three homers in a doubleheader against No. 1 Arizona State.

The Bruins held Beyster to one hit in two games during their last meeting by issuing her six free passes.

Beyster (20-11) recently became Oregon State's first pitcher ever to log 20 wins in a season, which she did in her win over the Bruins in game one on April 19.

Oregon's Jennifer Apfelbaum is coming off a big weekend, batting .625 with three RBI and three runs scored in Oregon's four-game roadtrip in Arizona.

Oregon pitching also received a big boost as pitcher Jennie Cook came up with back to back wins over Arizona State on Saturday. Cook improves to 20-13 on the season.

UCLA will continue to look for strong pitching and clutch hitting to push them past the Ducks and the Beavers. Pitchers Erin Weiler, Stephanie Swenson and Lindsey Gayer will be the core of the UCLA pitching staff.

Hopefully Kim Wuest and Nicole Odom will continue to dominate the plate for the Bruins.

Although the Bruins have no chance to make it into the postseason, this weekend will be about pride for the Bruins as they try for their first Pac-10 sweep in Oregon.

DERRICK KUDO/Daily Bruin

Outfielder Karen Hoshizaki takes a hack at the plate, trying to improve her .235 batting average.